“Doing Begins Learning” Modules
Created to support the implementation of Design-Based Learning across subjects and grade levels, the modules walk users through foundational concepts, common questions, and step-by-step strategies for bringing the methodology to
Activity #1 Sneaking Up on Homework
Design-Based Learning ACTIVITY #1 Sneaking Up on Homework Observing and Writing a Description about an Experience ©Doreen Nelson Never-Before-Seen Homework was a way for me to trick my students into
Activity #2 Sneaking Up on Creativity.
Design-Based Learning ACTIVITY #2 Sneaking Up on Creativity A Physical Object Becomes a Never-Before-Seen Creature (Metaphoric and symbolic thinking comes alive through an inanimate object) ©Doreen Nelson Never-Before-Seen Creature: Pretending
Activity #3 Three-Dimensional Symbolic Object as a Book Report
Design-Based Learning ACTIVITY #3 Never-Before-Seen Three-Dimensional Symbolic Object as a Book Report Identifying and Summarizing the Main Idea(s) of a Book ©Doreen Nelson Students learn to identify the main idea(s)
Starter City of the Future Guidebook
The Design-Based Learning Project created a Starter City Guidebook to show teachers how to build a city in their classroom, one of the cornerstones of the Design-Based Learning Project. This K-12
Backwards Thinking Explained
What is Backwards Thinking? K–12 classroom teachers learning the Design-Based Learning methodology find that using Backwards Thinking™ doesn’t require a whole new series of lessons or a new curriculum. All
The Curriculum Integration Chart
Origins Early in the evolution of the fabrication of Long-Range Planning Boards— before the Red Cups —as a first step toward, Doreen had teachers complete two-dimensional Curriculum Integration Charts (one
How the Red Cups Came About
The Red Cups are used to Kick-Start the Making and Displaying of an Integrated Curriculum. It took Doreen Gehry Nelson 15 years before she figured out how to streamline having